On your arrival, you’ll be picked up from Kilimanjaro International Airport and transferred to Moshi, the famous gateway to Mount Kilimanjaro. At the base hotel in Moshi or Arusha city, you’ll have accommodation and get trekking briefings from your mountain guide and final preparation to embark on the journey to the roof of Africa.

• Distance covered: 6 km/4 miles
• Mountain Elevation: 7,742 ft to 9,498 ft
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

The group will leave Moshi to Londorossi Gate, which takes approximately 4 hours, where you will be demanded to complete all official registration and briefings. Afterward is a drive to the Lemosho trailhead.

Once we arrive at the trailhead, we hike through the undisturbed natural forest, which winds up to the first campsite Mti Mkubwa.

• Distance covered: 8 km/ 5miles
• Mountain Elevation: 9,498 ft to 11,500 ft
• Hiking Time 5-6 hours
• Habitat: Health

We will continue on the trail leading us to a savannah of tall grasses and out of the rain forest, heather and volcanic rock wrapped with lichen beards. As we climb through the lush rolling hills and cross several streams, we will reach Shira Ridge, then a gentle drop to Shira 1 Camp. Here we catch our first sight of Kibo across the plateau.

• Distance covered: 11 km/ 7 miles
• Mountain Elevation: 11,500 ft to 13,800 ft
• Hiking Time: 5-7 hours
• Habitat: Heath

We will navigate and explore Shira Plateau for a full day. It is a gentle and less demanding walk to the east of moorland meadows towards Shira 2 Camp. Then we will divert from the main trail to Moir Hut, a small used site at the bottom of Lent Hills.

Various walks can be done in the surroundings at Lent Hills, making this a perfect acclimatization chance for climbers. Shira Plateau is the well famed and the highest plateau on earth.

• Distance covered: 7 km/4 miles
• Mountain Elevation: 13,800 ft to 15,190 ft
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

Lava Tower to Barranco Camp

• Distance covered: 3 km/2 miles
• Mountain Elevation: 15,190 ft to 13,044 ft
• Hiking Time: 2-3 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

We will continue a trek to the east up a ridge and then head southeast approaching Lava Tower, a volcanic rock formation at 300 ft. From there. We will descend to Barranco Camp through the strange but stunning Senecio Forest to an altitude of 13,000 ft.

Although you will have begun and ended the day at the same elevation, this time spent at a higher altitude is beneficial for acclimatization.

• Distance covered: 5 km/3 miles
• Mountain Elevation: 13,044 ft to 13,106 ft
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

A day will start by descending into a ravine to the bottom of the Great Barranco Wall. Then we will hike the non-technical but steep cliff, nearly 900 ft. From the highest reaching point of the Barranco Wall, we cut across several hills and valleys until we arrive at Karanga Valley with a sharp descent. And then, with just one steep climb, we will reach Karanga Camp. This is also a shorter day specifically meant for acclimatization.

• Distance covered: 4 km/2 miles
• Mountain Elevation: 13,106 ft to 15,331 ft
• Hiking Time: 4-5 hours
• Habitat: Alpine Desert

We will depart from Karanga and make our way to the junction which connects with Mweka Trail. We will proceed up the rocky section to Barafu Hut. Reaching this point, you will have completed the Southern Circuit, which gives you amazing views of the Kilimanjaro summit from many angles.

The camp will be set here, get some rest and enjoy an early dinner as we prepare for the summit day. From Barafu camp, you will have a perfect view of Mawenzi and Kibo, two Kilimanjaro peaks that offer enough motivation for the summit day.

• Distance covered: 5 km/3 miles
• Mountain Elevation: 15,331 ft to 19,341 ft
• Hiking Time: 7-8 hours
• Habitat: Arctic

Uhuru Peak to Mweka Camp

• Distance covered: 12 km/7 miles
• Mountain Elevation: 19,341 ft to 10,065 ft
• Hiking Time: 4-6 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

Around midnight, we will start ascending slowly, pushing towards Uhuru Peak. This part of trekking is the most demanding, both mentally and physically. At this elevation, there will be extreme wind and cold. We will keep ascending in the darkness for several hours while taking very brief short breaks once in a while.

Approaching Stella Point, 18,900 ft, you will enjoy the most glorious sunrise from Mawenzi Peak. And lastly, we will have arrived at Uhuru Peak, the Mount Kilimanjaro summit; you will get the experience of being on the roof of Africa, looking downward for a glorious view.

Once you have reached Uhuru Peak and taken in the breathtaking view of Africa’s plains, we will go down to the Mweka Hut campsite. Along the way, we will stop at Barafu for lunch. The track is very rocky and can be pretty challenging on the knees. Using trekking poles will be helpful.

The Mweka Camp is situated in the upper forest, and visitors should expect mist or rain during the late afternoon.

After a short descent, we will have our last meal together on the mountain in the evening, sharing experiences and telling stories of the more remarkable achievement. We will later take a well-deserved sleep.

• Distance covered: 10 km/6 miles
• Mountain Elevation: 10,065 ft to 5,380 ft
• Hiking Time: 3-4 hours
• Habitat: Rain Forest

On our final day of descent, we will head towards Mweka Gate to receive our certificates of success for summiting. The trails at this lower elevation may be wet and muddy.

Once we reach the gate, we will continue for an additional hour to Mweka Village, where we will meet with vehicles that will transfer us back to our base hotel in Moshi.

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